News Room: Press Releases

MinuteClinic signs clinical collaboration with Virtua

MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and Virtua, South Jersey’s largest health care provider with a clinical staff of more than 1,800 physicians, have entered into a clinical collaboration to enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in three counties in the region.

Under the agreement, Virtua physicians will serve as medical directors for five MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties. In addition, MinuteClinic and Virtua will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.

Virtua will accept patients who need a level of care that is not provided among MinuteClinic services. Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with Virtua.

“Virtua’s reputation for clinical excellence and its proven track record for patient satisfaction were important factors in our decision to affiliate,” said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark. “We look forward to having Virtua physicians collaborate with MinuteClinic practitioners to provide quality oversight, teaching and back-up so MinuteClinic can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost.”

MinuteClinic medical clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.

“Virtua is committed to health and wellness and to providing easy access to quality health care,” said Dr. Jim Dwyer, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Virtua. “This partnership enables us to achieve our mission of helping people be well, get well and stay well. Partnering with a quality organization like MinuteClinic makes it easier for people to fulfill their healthcare needs.”

MinuteClinic and Virtua will begin to work toward fully integrating electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual’s care. With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other Virtua locations. In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours, with patient consent.

MinuteClinic practitioners specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia, pertussis and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations. Walk-in camp, sports and college physicals for adolescents are available daily. In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help consumers identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. Clinics in South Jersey are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 7:30 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 5:30 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 4:30 pm.

About MinuteClinic MinuteClinic is a division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. MinuteClinic launched the first retail medical clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest provider of retail clinics with more than 600 locations in 25 states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to patient demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has generated more than 13 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic is the only retail health care provider to receive three consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.

As one of New Jersey’s largest health systems, Virtua helps people be well, get well and stay well through a comprehensive range of health care services. Services are delivered through three health and wellness centers, three fitness centers, three acute care hospitals, primary and specialty physician practices with more than 240 physicians, urgent care centers, nine ambulatory surgery centers, home health services, two long-term care and rehabilitation centers, 12 paramedic units and a wide range of outpatient services. A leader in maternal and child health services, Virtua delivers more than 8,000 babies a year. Virtua also provides employment and wellness services to 1,700 businesses and corporations. An innovator in clinical and information technology such as electronic medical records, Virtua is recognized for its ground-breaking partnerships with GE Healthcare, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Virtua employs more than 8,700 people and has been honored as the #1 Best Place to Work in the Delaware Valley every year since 2007. It is the recipient of the Consumer Choice Award from the National Research Corporation. For more information, visit www.virtua.org or www.virtuabroadcastnetwork.org.